Trans-Tasman Forest Industries Strengthen Ties

The New
Zealand and Australian forest, wood, and paper products
industries are moving towards a closer working relationship
at a series of industry meetings to be held in Canberra
between 16 and 24 April.

Chief Executive of the New
Zealand Forest Industries Council, Stephen Jacobi, welcomed
the move towards greater co-operation between the two
countries.

“Just like our two economies under CER, forest
industries on both sides of the Tasman are increasingly
integrated with one another: we share a common resource
based on radiata pine and we are chasing essentially the
same markets. The fact is the challenges we face are bigger
than just one industry and bigger than just one country,”
said Mr Jacobi.

The round of meetings includes the
inaugural meeting of the Trans-Tasman Forest and Wood
Products Forum. Taking place on 20 April, the forum is a
joint initiative between the new Australian plantation
industry organisation, A3P, and the New Zealand Forest
Industries Council.

CEOs and senior managers from New
Zealand companies Carter Holt Harvey, Crown Forestry, Forest
Research, Tenon, Weyerhaeuser, Winstone Pulp and from the
New Zealand Forest Owners Association and New Zealand Pine
Manufacturers Association are attending the forum.
“Forestry is New Zealand’s third largest export sector and
it makes sense to work co-operatively with our nearest
neighbour on large strategic issues affecting both
countries, such as international trade, research and
development, and climate change,” said Mr Jacobi.

“Deepening our dialogue with the Australian industry on
international trade issues is particularly important. As
international markets are freed up by the slow but sure
process of the World Trade Organisation, and as the pace of
international competition quickens, we must position
ourselves more aggressively. That means, inevitably, doing
more together.”

Mr Jacobi will also be meeting with
global forest, wood, and paper industry leaders while in
Canberra. On 15-16 April he will attend a meeting of the
International Council of Forest and Paper Associations
(ICFPA) and on 17 April he will chair a gathering of
industry leaders from Australia, Canada, Chile, South
Africa, and the United States to review the progress of WTO
Doha negotiations.

“Representatives of these industries
first met in Oaxaca, Mexico, in May 2003 to discuss the
progress in the Doha negotiations and to consider options to
further the interests of the global industry in these
critical negotiations,” said Mr Jacobi.

Mr Jacobi said the
Doha negotiations offer an unparalled opportunity to
eliminate trade barriers, put in place more effective trade
rules, and address the specific concerns of developing
countries.

“There has been a sense of drift in the
negotiations for much of this year. But now that they are
moving again the industry is keen to press for a robust
outcome through substantial tariff reductions, the
elimination of non-tariff barriers, and the creation of more
effective trade rules.”

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